Category: English 30

Parent Guide: The Lottery

This week in class, we’re reading “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.

In Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery,” an entire town participates in a ritual that turns surprisingly sinister.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Justice, Freedom & Equality, Morality, and Social Pressure as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“What is fair?”, “What are the effects of following the crowd?”, and “Why do people do bad things?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push

This week in class, we’re reading “Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push” by Walter Dean Myers.

In Walter Dean Myers’ short story “Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push,” a boy must change his approach to basketball when he loses the ability to walk.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Friendship & Family and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“How does a person overcome adversity?” and “What makes a family?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: The Scottsboro Boys

This week in class, we’re reading “The Scottsboro Boys” by Jessica McBirney.

In “The Scottsboro Boys,” Jessica McBirney discusses the historic event in which nine black boys were wrongfully accused and convicted of assault.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Justice, Freedom & Equality, Prejudice & Discrimination, and Social Change & Revolution as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“What is fair?”, “What are the effects of prejudice?”, and “How do people create change?”

Ways to support your child:

 

Parent Guide: The Three Questions

This week in class, we’re reading “The Three Questions” by Leo Tolstoy.

Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) was a famous Russian author, perhaps best known for his novels War and Peace and Anna Karenina. In this short story, a king looks for three answers to three questions in order to make himself a better ruler.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Resilience & Success and War & Peace as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“Why do people succeed?” and “How can we achieve peace?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: He-y, Come on Ou-t!

This week in class, we’re reading “He-y, Come on Ou-t!” by Shinichi Hoshi (translated by Stanleigh Jones).

“He-y, Come on Ou-t!” is an allegory about the consequences of environmental destruction, in which a town discovers a mysterious hole that seems to be the perfect solution to their trash problems.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Man vs. Nature and Technology, Progress & Industry as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“How do we view nature?”, “Who’s in control: man or nature?”, and “What should the future look like?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Identity

This week in class, we’re reading “Identity” by Julio Noboa.

In Julio Noboa’s poem “Identity,” a speaker explains why they would choose to be a weed over a flower.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Beauty & Happiness, Identity, and Social Pressure as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“Why do people follow the crowd?”, “What makes you who you are?”, and “How can we achieve happiness?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: The Rose that Grew from Concrete

This week in class, we’re reading “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” by Tupac Shakur.

In Tupac Shakur’s “The Rose That Grew from Concrete,” the speaker describes a flower that grew in an unlikely place.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Fate & Free Will and Resilience & Success as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“How does a person overcome adversity?” and “Can we control our fate?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good

This week in class, we’re reading “Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good — according to science” by Jo Cutler, Robin Banerjee.

In the informational text, “Five reasons why being kind makes you feel good — according to science” Jo Cutler and Robin Banerjee discuss why being kind to others can improve your mood.

As we read, we will be discussing the theme of Morality as it relates to the text. We are trying to answer this big question :

“What is good and how do we know?”

Ways to support your child:

Parent Guide: Discover Writing Prompts

Here’s the deal for this OPTIONAL writing activity.

Students can create a new “Discover” post in their iBlog. They can then use the score I give on that post to replace any other “Work From Home” mark in Google Classroom – if that is fair. A mark already in PowerSchool can only go up I offer.

Some students will see the prospect of writing a post as a burden, others will see it as a challenge, while others may see it as a relief. Participation in “Discover” writing prompts is optional.

I offer the choice to “Discover” as an outlet for working through complicated thoughts and feelings during a chaotic time. Students can respond in a variety of genres, media, or format – discover.

Each “Discover” prompt begins with a single word and a few suggestions for getting started.

Ways to support your child:

  • Ask you child if there are any “Work From Home” marks they’d wish to improve.
  • Encourage your child to make the writing personal, the prompts are optional and can be adapted. Be creative, be original, discover.

 

Parent Guide: Grit

This week in class, we’re reading “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Lee Duckworth.

In the TED Talk “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” Angela Lee Duckworth discusses the role that grit plays in success.

As we read, we will be discussing the themes of Education & Knowledge and Identity as they relate to the text. We are trying to answer these big questions :

“What is the goal of education?” and “What makes you who you are?”

Ways to support your child: